"Just hold on cause you never know what's in the works, what's on the horizon, what's over the next hill, or what's just around the corner. Please don't quit trying, that's the only sure way to fail." Denise Haas, aka Big D

All This For a Flag?

At one point during the ceremony of the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, the giant flag was carefully unfolded and proudly displayed. A choir of young people sang our National Anthem, then the flag was respectively, ceremoniously, slowly and honorably folded back into its triangular form. At some point in the presentation, a woman leans over to her husband and says, “All this for a flag?” This was caught on video, and there is some reasonable doubt as to what she actually said, but if that’s what she did say, then she is not alone. Unfortunately, there are plenty of others who would wholeheartedly agree with her. If that’s you today, here’s what I think of your opinion.

All this for a flag?

You bet, and a whole lot more! For hundreds of years, Americans have fought and died for this very flag. Oh, of course it wasn’t for the literal material the flag is made of, but for the principles and values that it stands for.

The battle to gain our freedom; the fight to preserve our freedom; the current struggle to keep our freedom; it’s all about our Flag and what it should represent to every American citizen.

Disrespect the flag, disrespect America

We’ve all witnessed scenes of people in other countries (and even in our own country) burning and desecrating our Flag. It’s a horrendous sight to see, for sure. But are they really meaning to hurt us by “destroying material?” Obviously not. They mean to attempt to demoralize us by destroying what even they know to be sacred to Americans. When they trample on the American Fag, they are literally showing contempt for everything American, our way of life, our liberty, democracy, indeed, even the scores of lives that have been lost in defense of that very Flag.

Patriotism

True, the American Flag used to represent a country whose people were known as humble, yet powerful, fair and equitable. A fearless Nation intent on rescuing the oppressed, helping the underdog, and standing up for the weak. America has certainly strayed far from her humble beginnings. There’s no argument on that, but there is a reason this has happened. The reason being that, as a whole, we have abandoned the truths of God, both in principle and in practice. We have forgotten from whence we came. We have left our first love, indeed our God who established us, and we have listened to other voices… voices that do not know what is honorable, peaceful or right. But even with all the brainwashing and revisionist history, we still know, deep down, that America was founded by God, upon God, and for God.

All this for a flag? Yes, from loss of limb to loss of life, hundreds of thousands of red blooded Americans have fought for the red, white, and blue, otherwise known as “Old Glory.” They fought regardless of whether it was a “just war” or not. Why? Because they pledged their allegiance to the Flag and the Constitution of the United States of America. The Flag which (still) shouts of freedom, refuge, rest, and relief from oppression… A City on a Hill as it were. At the end of the day, and with all our faults, we are still the best Country in the world.

So, no, you may not desecrate our Flag in word or deed. By doing so, you spit in the face of all it stands for; the principles and the people, the sacrifices and over 200 years of history. When you don’t honor the United States Flag, you thoroughly disrespect, in the most grievous way, the sacrifices of every single person who ever fought in any war for America.

Today we don’t honor politicians or bankers, or business people. We don’t celebrate evil, or greed, or tyranny. Today we honor the American Flag. The American Flag has not lost its meaning. It should still be our highest goal as a Country to get back to “Old Glory,” As a whole, we need to begin to behave, once again, like the honorable people for which it stands. Of course, that would take a real and present commitment to get back to the One Whom we are “under.”

To all those who have forgotten or who never knew the history of the horrors of war fought to preserve our freedom; that the past, present and hopefully our future as Americans is wrapped up in this honorable Flag; for those who are trying to paint a picture of America that doesn’t include our war torn, yet noble flag… THIS IS STILL THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE! And this truth still waves proudly in the AMERICAN FLAG!

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.“

So, yes, most definitely, whatever it takes, however long it takes, to whatever lengths we have to go to show respect for America herself… Yes, and all this for a flag.